Definition

Noun: - The canonical collection of Hebrew scriptures in Judaism: The Tanakh is the complete Hebrew Bible, comprising three primary sections: the Torah (Law), the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings). It forms the foundational religious text for Judaism.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Scholars study the Tanakh to understand the origins of Jewish law and tradition.
  • The weekly synagogue reading is taken from a portion of the Tanakh.

Advanced Usage

• "Tanakh study": The academic or religious examination of the Hebrew Bible's texts, history, and interpretation.
  • He dedicated his life to Tanakh study, focusing on the prophetic books.

Variants and Related Words

• Hebrew Bible (n): A common synonym for the Tanakh, especially in academic or interfaith contexts.
  • The terms "Tanakh" and "Hebrew Bible" often refer to the same collection of books.
• Old Testament (n): The Christian designation for largely the same collection of scriptures, which is organized differently and whose interpretation varies from that of the Tanakh.
  • While the Tanakh and the Old Testament contain similar material, their canonical orders differ.

Synonyms

• Hebrew Scriptures
• Miqra (a less common Hebrew term for the canon)

Related Terms and Concepts

• Torah (n): Specifically refers to the first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also known as the Pentateuch or the Law.
  • The Torah is the most sacred section of the Tanakh.
• Nevi'im (n): The section of the Tanakh containing the prophetic books.
• Ketuvim (n): The section of the Tanakh containing the "Writings," which includes books like Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.

Noun

1. the Jewish scriptures which consist of three divisions--the Torah and the Prophets and the Writings